Duke Kahanamoku

Annie

Reading — Beginner Level
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Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968) was a Native Hawaiian competition swimmer who popularized the ancient Hawaiian sport of surfing. He was born towards the end of the Kingdom of Hawaii, just before the overthrow, living into statehood as a United States citizen. He was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming. Duke was also a law enforcement officer, an actor, a beach volleyball player and businessman.

Kahanamoku died of a heart attack on January 22, 1968, at the age of 77. His ashes were scattered into the ocean. The City of Honolulu commemorated this Waikiki Beach burial site in 1990 with a 9-foot cast bronze statue of Kahanamoku by Jan Gordon Fisher that shows Kahanamoku with outstretched arms in front of his surfboard.
Source: Wikipedia
  1. What did Kahanamoku make popular?

  2. What important Hawaiian historic milestone did Kahanamoku experience?

  3. Where where Kahanamoku's ancestors from?

  4. How did he die?

  5. What did Hawaii do to commemorate Kahanamoku after his death?

Discussion

Practice your writing skills by discussing the questions below

  1. Have you ever surfed? If so, did you like it? If not, would you like to?

  2. What is your favorite water sport (to participate in or watch)?

  3. Have you visited Hawaii? If so, did you like it? If not, would you like to? Why or why not?

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